FEDERAL WAY, Wash.- Nick Soedel and Bence Kiraly won the first ever Pac-12 men’s swimming titles in school history during the final day of competition at the Pac-12 Championships. The Utes finished fifth with a score of 306.

Taking the Pac-12 title was California with a score of 786. Taking second was Stanford (661), in third was USC (621) and Arizona in fifth (596.5). The Utes topped ASU (287), UC Santa Barbara (178.5) and Cal Poly (157).

“What a historic day for our program!” said Utah head coach Joe Dykstra about the final day day of competition. “Not only did we get our first-ever event win in the Pac-12 Conference, we got our second in the same session. Bence winning the 1,650 with a new school record time, a time that for sure gets invited to the NCAA’s, and Nick Soedel following a couple events later winning the 100 free. He set a new school record this morning in the prelims, being just off of that tonight. Finishing off the session with the 400 free relay which again broke a school record. They were able to finish in third place to get on the podium; - three podiums in one night. I couldn’t be more proud of the swimmers, prouder of the coaches and the entire support staff. A lot of work goes into something like this from a lot of different people. I have to give credit where credit is due.”

Soedel took first in the 100 free with a time of 42.00. His time is the third fastest time in the country going into the weekend. His prelim time of 41.97 lowered the current Utah school record. Also taking first was Bence Kiraly in the 1,650 free. He touched in with a time of 14:58.37, an NCAA B qualifying time and he lowered the current school record.

Also taking the podium was the 400 free relay team of Soedel, Jonas Holmstrom, Alex Fernandes and Ken Titlges taking third in the event with a time of 2:53.41. They broke a new school record in the event as well. This was the first-ever Utah podium relay finish at the championships.

Kristian Kron took eighth in the 200 back with a time of 1:45.92, an NCAA B qualifying time. He swum a time of 1:43.26 in the prelims. Andy Cunningham took 19th (1:49.64). His prelim time of 1:48.09 was his career best. Brendan Nguyen in 21st place had his career-best time in the event with a time of 1:51.22.

In the 1,650 free, Andy Cunningham came in 11th (15:21.42), an NCAA B qualifying time and his career-best time. This time also moves him into the top three all-time at Utah. Also in the event was Evan Indahl in 18th (15:41.61), with his career-best time and Luis Macias in 22nd (15:59.68).

Tiltges touched in 11th with a time of 43.62, an NCAA B qualifying time. He also had his career-best time in the event and moves into the second all-time at Utah. Also in the event was Fernandes in 18th (44.12). He lowered his previous career-best time in the event and it moves him into the top ten all-time at Utah. His time is also a NCAA B qualifying time. Holmstrom finished in 21st (44.62), his career-best time. Alex Brown took 39th (45.81) in the event.

Moving into the top ten all-time at Utah in the 200 fly, David Fraser touched in 21st with a time of 1:49.52, and swum a time of 1:49.23 in the prelims. Also in the event was Macias in 22nd (1:50.08), Brandon Risley in 24th (1:52.61), Karson Applin in 24th (1:51.65) and Graham Charlton taking 27th (1:53.66).

In the 200 breast, Brandon Young took 21st (2:02.02) and Keanu Interone took 22nd (2:02.60). Both had their career-best in the event tonight.

The Utes final competition is the NCAA Swim Championships which will be March 20-22 for the women and March 27-29 for the men.

“We are very excited for NCAA’s,” Dykstra said. “We had some ups and downs today. I’m not sure exactly how many selections we are going to get on the men’s side but we know two for sure plus a bunch of relays. We will hold our breath until Wednesday to see if we have any more.”

The NCAA Swim Championship list of the men who will be invited from Utah will be available this Wed. March 12, at usaswimming.org.